The History of Pokémon: From 1996 to the 30th Anniversary

Pokémon began with two Game Boy games in Japan and grew into a connected world of video games, animation, trading cards, films, competitive events and physical collecting. In its 30th anniversary year, this guide follows the milestones that shaped the franchise without reducing its history to a list of sales figures.

Reviewed: 14 August 2026. Dates are based primarily on The Pokémon Company’s official corporate history.

Where did Pokémon begin?

Pokémon’s roots are closely associated with Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of the original concept, and the development studio Game Freak. Tajiri’s childhood interest in collecting insects is often used to explain the appeal at the heart of the series: discovering creatures, learning about them, building a collection and exchanging discoveries with other people.

The technical idea was especially suited to Nintendo’s Game Boy. Players could connect two handheld systems with a Link Cable, making trading part of the game rather than a separate activity. No single copy contained every Pokémon, so communication and exchange were built into the experience from the beginning.

1996: Pokémon Red and Green

Pokémon Red and Green were released for the Game Boy in Japan on 27 February 1996. Players travelled through the Kanto region, caught Pokémon, trained a team, challenged Gym Leaders and traded with friends.

The basic loop was easy to understand but unusually flexible. A player could focus on the story, complete the Pokédex, build a competitive team or simply search for favourite creatures. That combination of structure and personal choice remains central to Pokémon today.

The anniversary is celebrated on 27 February, now known as Pokémon Day. In 2026, that date marked 30 years since the Japanese launch.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game launched in Japan in October 1996. It translated the idea of Pokémon battles into a tabletop format while creating a second kind of collecting experience. Cards could be played, traded, organised by set or kept because of the artwork and character.

The North American Base Set followed in January 1999, and Pokémon cards became a major part of the franchise’s international growth. Early English cards were distributed by Wizards of the Coast, while modern products are managed by The Pokémon Company International.

The TCG has evolved through new rules, card types, rarity treatments and expansion themes. The essentials remain recognisable: players build decks around Pokémon, Energy and Trainer cards, while collectors can approach each expansion according to their own goals and budget.

New collectors should distinguish a genuine sealed product from loose packs with an unclear origin. Our Pokémon TCG beginner’s guide explains booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes, collection boxes and sensible storage in more detail.

1997: the animated series

The Pokémon television anime began in Japan in April 1997. Its characters gave a wider audience an accessible route into the world, especially viewers who had not played the Game Boy games.

Ash Ketchum and Pikachu became internationally recognised, but the anime did more than advertise the games. It established its own long-running stories, friendships and regional journeys. Later series introduced new lead characters while keeping the focus on discovery and the relationship between people and Pokémon.

International expansion

Pokémon Red and Blue and the first anime episodes arrived in the United States in 1998. The franchise expanded rapidly through games, television, cards, toys and cinema. Pokémon reached the UK during this period, with the games and trading cards becoming familiar in schools, playgrounds and game shops by the end of the decade.

The first theatrical film strengthened the sense that Pokémon was not a short-lived game trend. It could support different media while retaining a shared set of characters, regions and ideas.

How the video game generations developed

Main-series Pokémon games are commonly grouped into generations. Each generation introduces a region, characters, species and mechanical changes, while remakes and related titles revisit earlier settings in new ways.

Gold and Silver

The second generation expanded the world beyond Kanto and introduced features such as breeding, held items, a day-and-night cycle and two new Pokémon types. It demonstrated that the original formula could grow without losing its identity.

Ruby and Sapphire

The move to Game Boy Advance brought the Hoenn region, Abilities, Natures and double battles. These systems deepened both casual team-building and competitive play.

Diamond and Pearl

Nintendo DS hardware supported online trading and battling, helping players connect beyond a local Link Cable. The Sinnoh era later inspired remakes and Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Black and White

Unova presented a new regional Pokédex and placed unusual emphasis on the relationship between people, Pokémon and the idea of ownership. Direct sequels continued the region’s story.

X and Y

The sixth generation moved the main series into fully 3D presentation and introduced Mega Evolution. It was also the first simultaneous worldwide release for a main pair of Pokémon games.

Sun and Moon

Alola replaced the familiar Gym journey with island trials and introduced regional forms, showing that long-standing structures could be reinterpreted.

Sword and Shield

Galar brought the main series to Nintendo Switch, introduced the Wild Area and later expanded through downloadable content rather than a traditional third version.

Scarlet and Violet

Paldea adopted an open-world structure with multiple story paths. Technical discussion around the games was significant, but their more flexible approach also changed how players could explore a region.

Pokémon beyond the main games

Pokémon has always supported experiments outside the main RPG structure. Mystery Dungeon, Pokémon Snap, Pokkén Tournament, Detective Pikachu and Pokémon Legends all interpret the world through different genres.

Mobile releases widened the audience again. Pokémon GO launched in 2016 and connected real-world movement with catching and community events. Pokémon Sleep explored daily routines, while Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, released in 2024, focused on opening and collecting digital cards alongside casual battles.

Competitive play and community

Trading and battling made Pokémon social from the start. Organised competition later connected the video games and TCG through local events and the Pokémon World Championships. The first official World Championships listed in The Pokémon Company’s history took place in 2009.

Not every fan competes. The same community includes collectors, artists, speedrunners, players who focus on one species and families discovering a generation together. That range is one reason Pokémon can remain relevant while individual games and card sets change.

The Pokémon Company

The business structure behind Pokémon is shared across several specialist companies. Game Freak is responsible for the original planning and development of the main video game series. Nintendo manufactures and sells the video games, while Creatures contributes to the TCG, game development and 3D models.

Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. was established in 1998 and became The Pokémon Company in 2000, expanding into wider brand management. Pokémon USA, now part of The Pokémon Company International, was established in 2001, and a London office followed in 2003.

Pokémon at 30

The 30th anniversary in 2026 is significant because Pokémon has now passed between generations of players. Adults who first met the series through Red and Blue can share modern games and cards with children who began with the Nintendo Switch, mobile apps or a recent TCG expansion.

Anniversary products naturally attract attention, but age alone does not make every item a guaranteed investment. Collectors should buy products they understand, check condition and authenticity, and avoid spending based only on fear of missing out. Our Pokémon 30th Celebration page groups confirmed products and release information separately from rumours.

Why has Pokémon lasted?

• A clear central idea: discover, collect, train and share.
• Different ways to participate: games, cards, animation, events and collecting.
• Regular renewal: new regions and mechanics arrive without discarding the entire foundation.
• Strong character design: players can form attachments to individual Pokémon across several media.
• Social play: trading and battling connect fans locally and online.
• Cross-generational familiarity: returning characters sit beside new first-partner Pokémon and regions.

History of Pokémon FAQ

When was Pokémon created?

The first Pokémon games, Red and Green, were released in Japan on 27 February 1996. Development and planning began years earlier.

When did Pokémon cards begin?

The Pokémon Trading Card Game launched in Japan in October 1996. The English-language Base Set reached North America in January 1999.

Why is Pokémon Day on 27 February?

It marks the Japanese release date of Pokémon Red and Green.

How many generations of Pokémon are there?

There are nine main video game generations through Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Spin-offs, remakes and Legends titles do not always begin a new numbered generation.

Who owns Pokémon?

The franchise is associated with Nintendo, Creatures and Game Freak, with The Pokémon Company responsible for overall brand management.

Official source

The dates in this guide can be checked against The Pokémon Company’s official history, which covers the games, TCG, animation, company milestones and later releases.